Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCROLL, n., v. Sc. usages. For Sc. forms see Scrow, n.¹, v.

I. n. 1. A rough draft or copy of a piece of writing (Sc. 1812 W. Angus Eng. Grammar 337); a piece of paper, writing-pad, book or the like for writing drafts or rough notes (Ork., ne.Sc., Ags. 1969).Sc. 1698 J. Kirkwood Plea before Kirk 30:
The Heads or Scrole thereof, as a Memorandum of what he gave in.Arg. 1744 Trans. Gael. Soc. Inv. XXI. 147:
I wish you wowd send in the Shirref's answer to my sister's Letter or a scroll, as likewise a scroll of the Judicial Rentall taken by Airds and Esraggan.Sc. 1767 Boswell In Search of a Wife (Pottle 1957) 53:
I immediately wrote her a letter of which I enclose the scroll for your perusal.Sc. 1891 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 26:
I have not got my notes on the last three lectures copied out. They are still in the scroll.

Hence combs. (1) scroll-book, a book in which drafts or copies of documents are written; a school rough-note-book (Edb. 1970); (2) scroll cash-book, a rough-draft cash-book; (3) scroll-copy, a draft or fair copy; (4) scroll note, a rough note.(1) Sc. 1774 J. Maclaurin Crim. Cases xviii.:
The book in which the depositions, confessions, sentences, etc. are taken down, and signed by the witnesses, parties, and judges, is called the Scroll-book.Fif. 1862 St. Andrews Gazette (15 Aug.):
A minute of a Water Committee written in a scroll-book of Mr. Steele's.(2) Slg. 1857 Edb. Ev. Courant (26 Sept.):
Either in the scroll cash-book, clean cash-book, or ledger.(3) Sc. 1790 Lockhart Scott vi.:
I send you the scroll copy of an essay on the origin of the feudal system.Fif. 1845 Stat. Acc.² IX. 748:
There are duplicates for considerable periods, the scroll copy of the minutes having been preserved.(4) Abd. 1953:
My grocer keeps a scroll behind the counter and makes a scroll note of any minor matter which is not important enough for a proper invoice.

2. A story, relation, account.Abd. 1892 Innes Rev. (Spring 1956) 22:
It['s] a gey queer scroll aboot them.

II. v. To make a copy of (a document), to engross, to take copies.Sc. 1730 T. Boston Acct. My Life (1908) 305:
The Account of My Life as scrolled in shorthand characters.Sc. 1744 Caled. Mercury (22 March):
The Decreet Arbitral determining the Claims of the Creditors on the Estate of Burleigh . . . is now scrolled.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xlii.:
He wald scroll for a plack the sheet.Slk. 1875 Border Treasury (13 March) 373:
A young chap that's gleg an' correck at figures, an' can scroll page after page.